RUSH (City Lights, #3)(72)

I expected Noah to chime in and agree, but I guessed since he’d already given me that lecture, he didn’t feel the need to do it twice. Or maybe he felt the electricity humming along my nerves, or the heat of my happiness. I felt like I was glowing.

The night wore on, and the loft was filled with music, mostly from Felicia’s guitar, as she and a group of friends settled down in one candle-lit corner, and played and sang together. The night had mellowed; the tiny Christmas lights seemed muted and softer, and the voices of the party-goers less harsh. It was one of the best nights I’d had, made more so by the fact that Noah was clearly enjoying himself.

“It’s a practice run for the Planet X ball,” he told me.

I nodded, suddenly a little deflated, but Melanie finally couldn’t hold in whatever it was she needed to tell me, and drew me to the tiny kitchen where beer cans and half-empty bottles of liquor cluttered the counters. Her perpetual smile was still there, but she looked almost nervous, except that Melanie Parker was never nervous.

“All right, spill it. You look like you’re sitting on the secrets of the universe.”

“I just might be.” She sucked in a breath. “The Vienna Touring Orchestra. Ever heard of it?”

“Can’t say that I have. New?”

“New-ish. Definitely not as established as some others, but they’re not shitty either. They’re based out of Vienna—obviously—and word on the street is they’re gaining some traction in Europe for putting on an exceptional series, mostly Mozart.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “And?”

“Regina’s got a sister in Prague and heard that the VTO is sending some people out here. To fill some seats, if you catch my drift.”

I did, and bit my lip. “Mel…”

“Charlotte, just hear me out. I think this would be good for you on multiple levels. You’ve always wanted to travel; the company isn’t all that high-and-mighty so an unknown musician of your caliber could really rise to the top, and they’re all about Mozart! It’s like they were created with Charlotte Conroy’s must-have list in mind.”

“Well…”

“And the experience!” Melanie crowed. “To be honest, I think you need it. To get out of the city and the bad memories and the goddamn Spring Strings fiasco, and work one of those tours. Just…sink your teeth into something new.”

I smiled despite myself. “You should have been a saleswoman.”

“So you’ll audition?”

“Well, wait. I don’t know…”

“Oh, sweet baby Jesus, do not tell me you don’t want to go because of Lake.”

“Don’t start, Mel,” I said, feeling my hackles rise. “At least with Noah I’m doing something useful. Helping him.”

“Yes. You’ve been doing a bang-up job helping him. But who’s helping you?” She crossed her arms. “You cannot put your life on hold—again—for a man. I will not let you.”

The room temperature seemed to drop fifteen degrees. “I put my life on hold for a man?” I crossed my arms partly to look fierce, mostly to hide how my hands trembled. “And which man would that be? My brother who died or my boyfriend who tore my heart to shreds a minute later?”

Melanie held out her hands. “I’m sorry. That was a poor choice of words on my part. I just think that this orchestra would be perfect for you, and I’d hate to see you miss a shot at it for any reason.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I mean, how serious are things between you and Lake?”

“I don’t know,” I lied. Well, it was a half-lie. I didn’t know how serious Noah took us, but the thought of leaving him made my insides curl up. “But anyway, it’s a big deal, what you’re suggesting. To leave the country for a whole season and be so far away from my parents and…the city.”

“And Noah?”

“Can I research a little before you decide I’m setting the women’s movement back fifty years?”

Melanie wrinkled her lips. “Sure, sure, though time is of the essence…”

“What do you mean? When’s the audition?”

“Two weeks from Monday.”

“Ugh, Mel…”

“You had your sabbatical but it’s over now. Your time has come. This is it! I can feel it.” She softened. “Promise me you’ll consider it?”

“I’ll consider it,” I said, and was surprised to find that was the truth. The idea of this Vienna Touring Orchestra didn’t fill me with dread like I thought it would. On the contrary, it sounded exactly as Melanie had said: something I might have wished for in another life.

No, in this life. I could do this…And Noah…he could come with me.

Possibilities were floating in my head. I’d probably have to audition with Mozart. That was daunting as I honestly didn’t know if I’d freeze up, or melt into a puddle of tears, or both.

Or maybe you’d just nail it.

The night rapidly slipped away and I was ready to go. Or rather, I was ready to be alone with Noah, even if it just meant falling asleep with him in his bed. I was overjoyed that he was rejoining the world but still felt protective. Maybe I was setting the women’s movement back, but I wanted to take care of him, keep him safe.